Are you always in a hurry in the morning, preferring an extra 30 minutes of sleep over cooking breakfast? Do you often feel like you’re stuck in a breakfast-rut, tired of rotating the same three things all week long? Are you on the lookout for easy breakfast ideas that are also delicious and healthy?
If you said yes to either of those questions, here’s your answer:
Overnight Oats.
Oatmeal is one of those breakfasts that’s quick, healthy, and will fill you up with good nutrients to start off the day. Making it the night before just simplifies your morning by saving you from the dreaded “what should I eat” decision. Also, it could not be any easier. You basically need to throw everything together in a container and mix it up the night before, letting the refrigerator do the rest of the work. The next morning, breakfast is ready and waiting for you. You can easily also make this in a larger batch as a part of meal prep, and have it throughout the week (it’ll stay good for 2-3 days). You have no excuse not to try it!
Now, the basic recipe for any overnight oats is
1/2 cup oats + 3/4 cup any type of milk + any sweetener of your choice, as per taste.
As long as you follow this step, you can add anything else you like. For example, I like to add a tablespoon of chia seeds too for additional protein and omega 3s. You can:
Sweeten it: Use honey, jaggery liquid, maple syrup, palm sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, or agave
Make it dairy-free: use plant-based milk like almond, soy, or coconut milk
Make chocolate oats: add a teaspoon or two of cacao powder
Matcha oats: add 1/2 teaspoon matcha
Vanilla oats: add a dash of good quality vanilla extract
Fruit flavoured oats: add some pureed fruit, for example mango or strawberry (raw fruit blended until smooth).
Spice it up: a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg can be delicious
Add protein: a scoop of your favourite vanilla or chocolate protein powder can be mixed in too
Whichever route you choose to go, don’t skimp on the toppings! Oatmeal on it’s own can be rather boring, and the toppings are what elevates it to a truly crave-worthy breakfast. What can you add?
Chopped fresh fruit — try mixed berries, or diced mangos, or just some sliced bananas. If you want to go one step extra, try chopped apples stewed in some butter with brown sugar and cinnamon for an apple pie inspired overnight oats bowl.
Nuts and seeds — almonds, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, coconut flakes, etc. Add one or a mix.
Nut butters
Granola — oats on oats? why not! The crunch is delicious.
Add any combination of these toppings in the morning when you want to eat breakfast, and you’re good to go. With all of these ideas to play with, here’s a basic overnight oats recipe that you can customise.
- ½ cup rolled oats/instant oats
- ¾ cup milk of your choice
- 1 tbsp chia seeds (optional)
- 2 tsp sweetener (honey, agave, jaggery liquid etc) or more to taste
- Toppings (as per choice): mixed berries, chia seeds
- In a container with a lid, mix together the oats, milk, chia seeds, and sweetener. Stir to combine and refrigerate overnight (or at least 4-5 hours).
- In the morning, mix well and transfer to a bowl. Top with your choice of chopped fruit, nuts, seeds, or other toppings.
If you liked this recipe, you might also like Savoury Oatmeal Bowls.
